janet88:

lee_yl:

MIL only says DD2 takes after hubby’s intelligence. She always comments that DD2 who is the prettier one, takes after DH too. I just laugh it off.


The comment I got most fed up with is, I ate the wrong foodstuff (pork liver during preggy) and her grandson became granddaughter. I cried and my SIL chided her.

intelligence and good looks is always the son's credit.
but her son is the one who can't produce a baby boy. fortunately your SIL is on your side. mine here blames me for the grandson to have cleft.

Mil commented that DD2 looks like Hubby which is true. DD2 was very upset and insisted that she looks like me.

randwick:

Do your in laws blame you if your kids get bad grades?

My aunty blames her daughter in law for her granddaughter’s poor results. Why not her son???

Slmkhoo, 5 towns in 3 countries! How did you manage?


I probably need to move again in 2 years time.

schweppes:

Jennifer:

Schweppes,
The dishes are then chilled or frozen, reheat in microwave before serving?

The dishes are in the regular section of the fridge (not frozen). I don't transfer my pre-cooked meals to containers. They will still be in the pots that I cook them in. It makes it convenient for the girls or myself to heat up the food over the stove the next day or whichever day the dish is meant for. It's fuss free that way. We don't use the microwave for reheating the cooked food.

I usually cook on Sundays for 2-3 day meals, can keep up to Wednesday. Once the pots cool down to almost room temperature, I will place the pots in the fridge. So when I went fridge hunting, dh and I had to make sure that the fridge is wide enough and must have the depth for 2-3 pots. The shelves must have tempered glass in order to hold the weight.

So when I cook, I have to think about pot sizes coz it would be like manoeuvring a jigsaw of pots to fit in the fridge. Fridge can hold an assortment of 29cm oval cast iron pot, 26 cm round pot and/or 24 cm pots; maybe not all at the same time but in whatever permutations that they are cooked in.

If I know that the girls will be home for lunch as school starts later in the day, I will cook a bit more so that they can have the meals for lunch. I don't cook separate meals to cater for lunch and dinner. They learn to live simply that way. If they wish to, they will prepare their own lunch.

Most of my dishes are soups or stews, and some taste better the next day.

Some of the family's fave dishes are: (very simple meals tho)

Ox tail stew in guinness stout
Borscht stew
Beef bolognese
Pho (either chicken or beef)
Japanese curry chicken
Curry chicken
3 cup chicken (Augmum's recipe)
Red glutinous wine chicken (hong zao ji) - will get the red paste from my uncle if he prepares them
Chicken (herbal) soup/ stews ( i play around with the veg/herbs to create varieties)
Honey ginger chicken
Bak Kut Teh

(I have minimised cooking pork dishes, so much so that, whenever I eat pork now, I feel nauseous.)

As they are one pot meals, I try and make sure that it's as balanced as possible with the protein, carbs (potatoes/udon/pasta), greens/veg. As much as I would love to create multiple dishes for each meal, it is difficult for me to do so, especially since I work and never had a helper.

Used to tabao but decided that it would be good that the family takes more home-cooked meals. So, the pre-cooked meals on Sundays for the 2-3 days weekday meals have worked out well for me and my family. Not the most ideal but I guess I do the best I can for my family.

For the rest of the week, either myself or dd1 will cook something simple for the family. It's usually something that inspired us when we watch some Jamie Oliver or Masterchef cooking show. Haha

Our meals tend to be more Western influenced as we enjoy the \"lighter\" flavours - maybe coz of the cooking shows that we watch. For our Asian/Chinese meals fix, we would go to our regular tzi char stalls as the cooks definitely cook those dishes better than me.

Are you a Fuzhou? In my generation, only one cousin knows how to make the paste. Next time, everyone will rely on her for the paste.

hercules:

If possible, new couple should start with a new BTO to have a higher chance to max the 'return' that a Sporean is 'entitled' to.


My HDB S&P records:

1. First new flat - gross profit about $400,000 (5 years), outskirt
2. Second resale flat - gross about $10,000 (2 years), town
3. Third resale flat - gross about $240,000 (4 years), town
4. Current resale flat - unrealised gross of about $250,000, town

Shifting due to needs (when parents/in-laws required us to move in with them / closer to them for care, work relocation, etc). Shifting house is 'a piece of cake' for my family!

I thought I was alone.... I have also shifted 4 times. :hugs:

Made about $500k capital gains and $100k rental. But... really hard work on Hubby who does most of the coordination work.

TheAnswer:

Bangkok is cheap also so we r visiting Bangkok next year also. Perhaps also visit relatives next year end in US.


Should have room for 2 more short vacations.

Envy! 4 vacations a year! :drool:

Used to do that before I stopped work. This year reduced to 2...Bangkok and Japan. Heartpain over the cost for the japan trip. No choice.. supposed to be DD1 post PSLE trip last year which was carried over.

DD1 is Sec 1. DD2 is only 5 but can see the playful traits. Refuse to attend class…never an issue with DD1. I know I shouldn’t compare but DD2 does seem slower…DH concur with my observation. I am glad I have more time with DD2.

MyPillow:

Cloud Cloud:

Well, at least you are doing it now. Yes, parental intervention important and must be early...


My sil just told me her P5 boy is still not familiar with time tables. She is spending more time with him to prepare for PSLE....

actually , i am v scared to do all these coaching with kids. tiring after a day of work.
I can give birth more if no need to do academic coaching . And it is difficult to \"let it go\" since
we still need to be responsible parents .
Parenting / parenthood is a long journey
some parents journey seem endless if the adult kid is immature n not independent :gloomy:

Understand...maybe my energy level is low. So tired after a day work... where got energy for coaching. I did not do much coaching with DD1 coz I was working then. I outsourced. Count my blessing she is independent and motivated and no need help with homework and spelling.

DD2 is different... I find. More playful...need to monitor closely... if not like 断线的风筝。

I find that for working mothers...can outsource some coaching (not all) and housework. Don’t be so hard on ourselves.

Well, at least you are doing it now. Yes, parental intervention important and must be early…


My sil just told me her P5 boy is still not familiar with time tables. She is spending more time with him to prepare for PSLE…

MrsKiasu:

slmkhoo:

[quote=\"MrsKiasu\"]dd1 has been a good girl today. took 6 past year sci papers in the morning said wants to finish it today and got it done before I cooked dinner. ... To me, enough to make up her almost no study day yesterday. I told her, in future be exactly like this, can

I applaud her enthusiasm, but is it really helpful? I think she should take time to go over the answers, work on the weak areas and learn from her mistakes, one paper at a time. If not, she will just make the same errors over and over again, and \"practise making mistakes\". Doing more doesn't mean she is learning more.

This time round I managed to go through the ans with dd after every paper and explained to her the keywords. yes, it seems she needs help on the answering techniques..during the process, I couldn't stop thinking maybe that would be what Sci tutors will teach. the lower 1 or 2 marks per sub qns seems to be kinder to her than those in Math where she will straight away lose 3 or 4 marks per qn due to careless. I hope I could help her more in the near future..just happened to received a confirmation yesterday for a seat in a one year intensive course..let's see how.[/quote]MK, you are very committed...am sure your girls will benefit. I must learn from you.